Plant-protector.



PATENTED OCT. 3, 1905.

C. LANDON PLANT PROTECTOR APPLICATION FILED MAR I It!!! I It!!! II:

Witnesses CHARLES LANDON, OF YUMA, ARIZONA TERRITORY.

PLANT-PROTECTOR.

No. 800,746. Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 3, 1905.

Application filed March 31,1905. Serial No. 253,005-

To rtZ/T wit/11:1. it may concern.-

Beitknown thatl, CHARLES LANDON, acitizen of the United States, residing at Yuma, in the county of Yuma and Territory of Arizona, have invented new and useful Improvements in Plant-Protectors, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the art of plant and arbor culture, particularly to the art of protecting growing plants, combining both utility, simplicity, and economy in manufacture.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a plant-protector suitable to the climatic conditions of any locality which affords a perfect protection to plants, seeds, and any growing vegetation against the sudden change of weather, strong winds, and the attacks of birds and insects.

Another object of my invention is to provide a plant-protector so simple and economical of manufacture that it will be practicable to provide an individual protector for each plant.

Another object of my invention is to provide a simple plant-protector so constructed that the inclosed plants or shrubs will be protected from unseasonable weather and subjected to forced growth, which in the case of plants makes it possible to place the same in condition for market two to four Weeks earlier than under ordinary circumstances.

My invention consists of novel features and parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described in the claims.

A practical embodiment of my invention is represented in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both views.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the protector-frame with the flexible covering removed, showing the extremely simple construction of the frame portion. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the same with the flexible covering attached, showing the protector ready for use.

My invention consists, essentially, of a cube-shaped frame consisting of four upright posts A A, one at each corner thereof, rigidly secured in their normal position by means of the top and bottom rectangular side pieces B B and O C, respectively, and the solid back portion D. These top and bottom pieces, together with the solid back, are rigidly secured to said upright posts by any ordinary means, such as nails or other suitable fastenings.

The lower ends of said posts A A are reduced at the extremities, forming the feet E E, respectively. One side of the box-frame is provided with a wire screen Fof any suitable size, preferably a mesh one-fourth inch in size of approximately the width of the solid back D, securely fastened to said frame between the oppositely-alined posts and their connecting top and bottom side pieces, as clearly shown in the drawings. Directly opposite this wire screen is the solid back D of approximately the height of the frame, constructed of wood or other suitable material, secured to the two opposite adjoining rear posts by any suitable fastenings. Straight across the top of said frame and extending downward over the two opposite sides of the approximate width of said frame is the flexible covering F, made of any suitable material, but preferably any transparent waterproof material, such as heavy oiled muslin, secured to said frame by any desired fastening, preferably glue or cement, as clearly shown in Fig. 2.

By reference to the foregoing description it is obvious that when the protector is placed over the plant and pressure exerted the feet E E are sunk into the soil, thus holding the protector in the position desired. In operation this protector is placed over one or a number of individual plants, as may be desired. the solid back facing the north and the open screen facing the south. In this position the plant is protected against the cold north Wind and at the same time is permitted to enjoy the sunlight and the mild breezes blowing from the south. The top and the other two sides, provided with a thin weatherproof semitransparent covering F, not only protect the interior from the elements in those particular directions, but also admit a so ft mellow light, which may be regulated according to the degree of illumination desired, thus materially aiding in the forced growth of the contained plant.

lOO

For the purpose of making a more complete disclosure and description of my invention, so that the public may the more intelligently work the same, I have found from actual experience that the following sizes of frames are the most desirable: The size for melons and cucumbers is six to seven inches square and five to six inches high. For tomatoes and chilliplants the most desirable size is from seven to eight inches square and from nine to twelve inches high, both sizes provided with a wire IIO screen of one-fourth-ineh mesh. Start tomatoes and chillies in hot beds or cold fra1nes then transplant them in the open lield and place a protector over the same. By the use of these protectors it is possible to have garden-seeds and vegetables mature from two to four weeks earlier than under ordinary cir- I l cumstances, thus reaching the market at an early date and realizing a much higher price. Having described my invention, so that any one skilled in the art may readily understand the same, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. In a plant-protector, a frame, one side 

